Parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms



March 11, 1941. H. A. DAVIS 2,234,860

7 PARALLEL MOTION PICKER STICK MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Sept. 23, 1939 33 \nvenTor.

32 Harry ADclvis by 161W; WWQWM 3S ATTyS.

35 as 35 a7 Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARALLEL MOTION PICKER STICK MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Harry A. Davis, Hopedale, Mass. Application September 23, 1939, Serial No. 296,262

12 Claims. (01. 139-150) This invention relates to improvements in parmounted upon the rocker stand between the allel motion picker stick mechanism for looms, picker stick and the loom side, thereby necessiand the principal object thereof is to provide tating the use of a rather lengthy strap of exmechanism which will insure axial thrust of the pensive leather connecting the spring drum to shuttle by the picker stick in parallelism with the picker stick and at the same time making less 5 the lay. effective the hold-down effect of the spring on In usual picker stick motions the impulse given the rocker. to the picker stick by the pick-motion and lug Another feature of the invention consists in strap causes a lifting or jumping of the picker providing mechanism which will permit the locatstick at the end of the stroke and also a longiing of the spring drum between the position 0 tudinal movement of the rocker upon the rocker of the picker stick and the end of the rocker stand at each actuation of the picker stick, therestand with a relatively short connection to the by causing improper engagement of the picker adjacent end of the rocker, thus enabling the stick with the shuttle during its impelling stroke saving of expensive leather by the use of a much which is likely to injure the shuttle and also to shorter strap and gaining the advantage of prac- 15 wear the shuttle box. By the present invention tically a direct hold-down effect on the rocker. mechanism is provided for insuring accurate A further object of the invention is to provide movement of the shuttle thereby eliminating a connection between the strap of the spring these defects and increasing the life of the shutdrum and the rocker in the form of a stirrup tle and shuttle box and avoiding the production having parallel metal 1inks located closely adja- 20 of seconds in the cloth being woven. cent to the opposite sides of the rocker stand and In usual picker stick constructions the picker rocker which serve to prevent lateral movement stick extends through the rocker shoe and the of the rocker, and also providing suitable guides stand and is connected at its lower end to a strap for the outer end of the rocker, thereby prevent- 35 which extends around a spring drum which ing twisting movement of the picker stick and in- 5 maintains such tension upon the lower end of suring the proper axial thrust of the picker stick the picker stick as to return the picker stick to upon the shuttle.

normal position after actuation by the pick- Another object of the invention is to provide motion and in such construction the lower end an improved adjustable connection between the portion of the picker stick is held in contact with picker stick and the rocker. 30

an abutment, usually in the form of a wedge or These and other objects and features of the roll, located within the slot in the rocker stand invention will more fully appear from the followand the sudden impulse imparted to the picker ing description and the accompanying drawing stick causes wear upon this abutment as well as and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

serious misalinement of parts and also produces A preferred embodiment of the invention is 35 unnecessary noise in the operation of the loom. illustrated in the drawing, in which,

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section,

a picker stick mechanism in which the picker of the lower left hand portion of a loom embodystick does not extend through the rocker and ing the preferred form of the invention, the conrocker stand, and in which the rocker is mainnection between the picker stick and rocker arm 40 tained constantly seated upon its support durbeing broken away and shown in section;

ing the entire rocking movement in both direc- Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the construction tions. illustrated in Fig. 1, the picker stick being shown A further object of the invention is to provide in section; a construction in which a flexible cushioning Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, mainly in ver- 5 member is interposed between the rocker and tical section on line 3-3 Fig. 1; and,

rocker stand, thereby practically eliminating the Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the shaft noise and supplying sufiicient cushioning action and hook for connecting the stirrup which en- 7 to absorb the abrupt impact of connecting parts gages the outer end of the rocker to the strap on the picker stick at the time of pick and to of the spring drum. 50 prevent jumping of the picker which in usual In the preferred construction illustrated the constructions is produced by the jumping of the left side I of the loom frame is shown as suppicker stick. porting the usual rocker shaft upon which is In usual picker stick constructions the spring mounted a stand 2 for the picker stick rocker or drum, which is connected to the picker stick, is shoe which is provided with 2. preferably fiat sur 55 face 3 upon which the curved surface 4 of the rocker is supported. The rocker 5 is provided approximately centrally of its length with an upwardly extending hollow boss 6 having a vertical rectangular aperture therein which may extend through the shoe. The lower end of the picker stick '1 extends into this aperture and a channelshaped metal member 8, which is interposed between the side of the picker stick and the inner vertical wall of the boss, fits upon the picker stick. The lower end of the channel-shaped member 8 is provided with a rib 9 which preferably seats in a recess in the lower end of the adjacent wall of the boss 6. The picker stick is clamped in the boss by a bolt In which passes through the boss 6, the central portion of the channel-shaped plate 8, and a channel-shaped keeper II which fits upon the opposite side of the picker stick and is provided with a nut l2 which when set up will secure the parts firmly together. An adjusting screw l3, which is mounted in the upper part of the boss 6, engages the member 8 and is provided with the usual set nut to retain it in adjusted position. By reason of this construction the picker stick may be accurately adjusted to maintain it in proper position relatively to the curvature of the surface 4 of the rocker shoe, so that the upper end of the picker stick will exert an accurate axial thrust upon the shuttle in parallelism with the lay when the picker stick is actuated by the pick mechanism.

By reason of the construction aforesaid the lower end of the picker stick does not extend through the rocker shoe and of course does not extend through the rocker stand as in usual constructions, thereby obtaining advantages which will hereinafter more fully appear.

One of the objects of the invention, as above pointed out, is to provide a parallel motion picker stick mechanism of the character described, in which the means for preventing jumping of the picker stick and longitudinal movement of the rocker is prevented comprising yielding means exerting a gradually increasing downward and inward pressure on the outer end of the rocker as it moves upwardly with means connecting the inner end of the rocker to the rocker stand acting both to resist longitudinal inward movement of the rocker relatively to the rocker stand and to apply a gradually increasing downward force to the inner end of the rocker during the upward rocking movement thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated this is accomplished by providing, in a suitable position upon the rocker stand beyond the outer side of the picker stick and the extreme outer end of the rocker stand, a downwardly extending bracket [4 supporting a spring actuated drum l5 upon which is mounted a strap Hi, the free end of which is connected by suitable means to the outer end of the rocker. The drum i5 desirably is provided with flanges 15m to provide a channel which will insure proper winding of the strap upon the drum. The bracket I4 is so positioned that the force applied to the outer end of the rocker acts downwardly and inwardly with respect to the adjacent loom side.

The means for preventing longitudinal movement of the rocker upon the rocker shoe, and also for preventing the lifting of the rocker shoe, comprises a flexible member I! which is connected at its outer end by suitable means such as bolts I8 to the end of the rocker stand and preferably extends along the upper surface 3 of the rocker stand between the rocker stand and the rocker and is connected at its inner end by suitable means, such as a bolt l9, to the upturned inner end of the rocker shoe, The flexible inex tensible member I! may be of any suitable character such as a strap of high grade leather, or of inextensible woven fabric, or a plurality of associated inextensible flexible members of any suitable form. In the latter case suitable longitudinal channels or grooves (not shown) in the under surface of the shoe may be provided.

The inner end of the shoe, which in usual constructions is provided with a longitudinal central reenforcing rib 20, desirably is provided near its end with upwardly extending side flanges 2| having flat outer surfaces adapted slidably to engage the inner faces of vertical guides 22 which may be integral with the rocker stand or in the form of a U-shaped member 23 embracing and welded, or otherwise secured to the rocker stand.

By reason of this construction the flexible member I1, whether in the form of a leather strap, an inextensible woven web of fibrous material, or other suitable construction, will form a cushion between the curved surface of the shoe and the upper surface of the rocker stand and will thereby minimize or eliminate noise which might otherwise be produced by the rocking of metal upon metal. The guides 22 prevent any lateral movement of the shoe relatively to the rocker stand.

In the preferred construction illustrated the outer end of the rocker shoe is connected to the strap N5 of the spring drum by a stirrup comprising parallel metal links 24 preferably having at their upper ends bosses which are connected by a bolt 25 which passes through a boss 26 extending upwardly from the outer end of the rocker shoe with a spacing sleeve 21 mounted on said bolt and at its ends engaging the bosses on the link 24. The links 24 are so positioned as to slidably engage the edges of the rocker stand 2 and thereby prevent lateral movement of the outer end of the rocker relatively to the rocker stand. Such guiding means in cooperation with the guides 22 effectively prevent any possible lateral twisting movement of the rocker relatively to the rocker stand.

The lower ends of the links 24 are connected by a shaft 28, preferably having reduced and screw threaded end portions which extend through lower bosses upon the lower ends of the 0 links 24. In the preferred construction the shaft 28 has mounted in it centrally of its length a downwardly extending hook 29 adapted to engage a suitable hole or grommet in the free end of the strap l6 which is mounted on the spring drum IS.

A preferred connection between the upper ends of the links 24 and the upwardly extending boss 25 on the end of the rocker shoe is illustrated in the enlarged detail view Fig. 3 which shows the bosses at the upper end of the links 24 as provided with shallow cylindrical inward extensions 30 which will fit within complementary cylindrical countersinks 3| in the ends of the boss 26, the cylindrical extensions 30 forming journals for the upper ends of the links 24. The countersinks 3! are somewhat deeper than the cylindrical extensions 30 and the spacing sleeve 21, which abuts against the ends of the extensions 3!), prevents binding of the pivotal connection when the nut on the connecting bolt 25 is set up.

The preferred form of spring drum mechanism for maintaining the tension upon the strap [6 and through the links 24 upon the outer end of the rocker is also illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the bracket it is shown as integral with the rocker' stand 2 and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. A spindle, which is mounted upon the depending bracket, comprises a cylindrical portion which is mounted upon a squared shank portion of a bolt 34 which is mounted in the bracket it and the drum hi to which the strap it is attached is rotatably mounted upon this cylindrical portion. This spindle also comprises an integral conoidal portion 35 which abuts against the inner face of the bracket and is provided with a toothed flange 36. A spiral spring 3i surrounds the spindle 35 and is anchored at one end in the slot 33 in the conical portion of the spindle and at its other end extends into an annular recess 35 on the drum and is fixedly secured to the drum. When the strap it is secured to the link 24 the spindle may be rotated in. the proper direction to place the spring d'l under the desired degree of tension and the spindle then locked in adjusted position by suitable means such as by a locking screw M which is mounted in the bracket and engages a recess between adjacent teeth of the toothed flange The screw id is provided with a suitable lc-ck nut ll to prevent withdrawal of the screw it by reason of the vibration of the loom. By reason of this construction a. desired tension may be placed upon the strap ill and the stirrup 2t thereby to exert a proper pressure upon the outer end of the rocker In the operation of the device the downward and inward yieldin pressure exerted upon the outer end of the rocker shoe holds the rocker firmly down upon the flexible member ll and the rocker stand therebeneath and also produces re- Sultant force toward the loom side. This longitudinal force is counterbalanced and longitudinal movement of the rocker prevented by the inextensible flexible member ll which is attached to the inner end of the rocker and to the outer end of the rocker stand. Tension imposed upon the flexible member ll, which follows the contour of the inner end of the rocker, also produces a downward resultant force sufficient to hold the inner end of the rocker from being lifted by the action of the picker mechanism. The stirrup links 2d at one end of the rocker and the vertical guides 22 at the other end of the rocker prevent any lateral or twisting movement of the picker stick. The construction is therefore such as to insure a proper parallel motion at the upper end. of the picker stick which will cause it at all times properly to exert the thrust axially of the shuttle in such parallelism to the lay as to avoid injury to the shuttle, the shuttle box or the lay.

It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are of an illustrative character and not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a horizontal rocker stand and a picker stick having a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, means located between the outer side of said picker stick and the outer end of said rocker stand for preventing jumping of said picker stick and longitudinal movemei'lt of said rocker comprising yieldable means exerting a gradually increasing downward and inward pressure on the outer end. of said rocker, and inextensible flexible means connected to the inner end portion of said rocker and extending outwardly and connected to said stand and. acting to prevent longitudinal inward movement of said rocker relatively to said stand and to apply gradually increasing downward force to the inner end of said rocker during the upward rocking movement thereof.

2. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a horizontal rocker stand and a picker stick having a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, means located between the outer side of said picker stick and the outer end of said rocker stand for preventing jumping of said picker stick and longitudinal movement of said rocker comprising yieldable means exerting a downward and inward pressure on the outer end of said rocker, and an inextensible flexible cushioning member lying between said rocker and said stand connected to the inner end of said rocker and to the outer end of said stand to resist downward force at the time of pick.

3. In a parallel motion icker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a horizontal rocker stand and a picker stick having a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, means for preventing jumping of said picker stick and longitudinal movement of said rocker located between the outer side of said picker stick and the extreme outer end of said rocker stand comprising adjustably controllable yieldable means exerting a gradually increasing downward and inward pressure on the outer end of said rocker, and an inextensible flexible cushioning member lying between said rocker and said i stand connected to the inner end of said rocker and to the outer end of said stand, acting to resist, sustain and neutralize downward force at the time of pick.

4. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand having a socket for a picker stick, a picker stick mounted in said socket but not extending beyond the arcuate face of said rocker, a metallic clamping member intermediate of the rear edge of said picker stick and the wall of said socket having a boss at its lower end, means for clamping the picker stick and boss against the adjacent wall of said socket, and an adjusting screw located above said clamping means, yieldable means connecting the outer end of said rocker to said rocker stand exerting a downward and inward pressure on the outer end of said rocker and an inextensible strap located between said rocker and said rocker stand connecting the inner end of said rocker to the outer end portion of said rocker stand.

5. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, a picker stick mounted in said rocker but not extending beyond the arcuate under surface of said rocker, a peripherally channeled spring drum mounted on said rocker stand outwardly of said picker stick but inwardly of the extreme outer end of said rocker, a flexible member mounted on said drum and guided in the peripherial channel thereof, means connecting said flexible member to the outer end of said rocker and flexible cushioning means lying between said rocker and said stand connecting the inner end of said rocker to the outer end portion of said stand.

6. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, a picker stick mounted in said rocker and adjustably and fixedly attached to it but not extending beyond the arcuate under surface of said rocker, a peripherially channeled spring drum mounted on said rocker stand beyond the outside of said picker stick and inwardly of the extreme outer end of said rocker stand, a strap mounted on said drum guided in the peripherial channel thereof, means connecting said strap to the outer end of said rocker, flexible cushioning means lying between said rocker and said stand connecting the inner end of said rocker to the outer end portion of said stand, and vertical guides extending upwardly from said stand upon opposite sides of and adjacent to the inner ends of said rocker for preventing lateral movement of said rocker relatively to said rocker stand.

7. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, a picker stick mounted in said rocker but not extending beyond the arcuate under surface of said rocker, a spring drum mounted near the outer end of said rocker stand but inwardly of the end of said rocker, a strap on said drum, a stirrup connecting said band to the outer end of said rocker comprising parallel links lying closely adjacent to opposite sides of said rocker and pivotally connected at their upper ends to said rocker and having means pivotally connected to the lower end and detachably connected to the end of said strap.

8. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, a picker stick mounted in said rocker but not extending beyond the arcuate under surface of said rocker, a spring drum mounted near the outer end of said rocker stand but inwardly of the end of said rocker, a strap on said drum, a stirrup connecting said band to the outer end of said rocker comprising parallel links lying closely adjacent to the edges of said rocker stand and rocker pivotally connected at their upper ends to said rocker and connected at their lower ends by a member having a central hook adapted detachably to engage an aperture in the end of said strap.

9. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a rocker presenting a horizontal rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand having a socket to receive a picker stick, a picker stick mounted in said socket but not extending beyond the arcuate face of said rocker, an inextensible flexible strap secured at one end to the inner end of said rocker and at its other end to the outer end of said rocker stand, a bracket connected to said rocker stand inwardly of the end of said rocker and outwardly of the position of said picker stick, a spring drum rotatably mounted in said bracket, a strap having one end secured to said drum, and means detachably secured to the other end of said strap extending upwardly and outwardly and pivotally connected to the outer end of said rocker.

10. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a rocker presenting a horizontal rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand having a socket to receive a picker stick, a picker stick mounted in said socket, means for returning the picker stick to normal position comprising a stirrup pivotally connected to the outer end of the rocker having parallel guiding links adjacent to and slidably engaging the edges of the rocker stand, and resilient means engaging the lower end of the stirrup acting to exert a downward and inward force through said stirrup upon the outer end of the rocker arm.

11. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a horizontal rocker stand, a picker stick having a rocker mounted on the rocker stand, said rocker having upon its outer end an upwardly projecting boss provided with cylindrical countersinks, a stirrup connected to said boss comprising links having cylindical extensions mounted within the countersinks in said boss and slidably engaging the vertical sides of the rocker stand, a shaft journaled in the lower ends of said links having midway of its length a downwardly extending hook, and a spring drum mounted on said rocker stand having a tension strap secured at one end thereto and provided with means at its free end to engage said hook.

12. In a parallel motion picker stick mechanism for looms having a lay rock shaft provided with a rocker stand, a rocker mounted on said rocker stand, a picker stick mounted in said rocker, a spring drum mounted on said rocker stand provided with a channeled peripherial surface, a strap having one end secured to said drum and lying within said channel, means connecting the other end of said strap to the outer end of said rocker, and flexible means lying between said rocker and stand connecting the inner end of said rocker to the outer end portion of said stand.

HARRY A. DAVIS. 

